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Jennings stands by pitch selection vs. Puig

Jennings stands by pitch selection vs. Puig

8/20/13: Yasiel Puig steps to the plate for the first time of the night and hits a clutch solo shot to give the Dodgers a lead in the eighth

By Joe Frisaro
/
MLB.com |

MIAMI -- After rethinking and reviewing on video, Dan Jennings has no regrets about the pitch or the location. What he'd like to reverse is the result.

Jennings surrendered the game-changing home run to Yasiel Puig to lead off the eighth inning on Tuesday night.

Puig, who didn't start the game, took a low, 90-mph fastball, and deposited it just far enough to clear the wall in left-center at Marlins Park. The drive snapped a tie, and the Dodgers went on to a 6-4 win over Miami.

"In a tie ballgame, as a pitcher, you're trying to keep the ball and keep it in the ballpark," Jennings said. "I threw a pitch that was down in the bottom of the zone. I still stand by the pitch."

The Miami lefty had not allowed a home run all season. Puig's blast snapped Jennings' 30-inning streak.

Puig is a notoriously aggressive hitter. He's known for swinging at first pitches. When he puts them in play, he is extremely dangerous.

The Dodgers rookie outfielder is batting .630 with five homers when he puts the first pitch in play, entering Wednesday night.

"It's a tough situation," Jennings said. "I know he did it [Tuesday] and he did it the day before. He swings at first pitches. I understand that. You learn from your mistakes."

The fact that Puig didn't start the game and he delivered on the first pitch he saw added to the drama.

"When you talk about low-ball hitters in the game, there are not a ton of them," Jennings said. "But some of the best hitters are. You think, 'Where do you try to throw a low-ball hitter?' You still try to keep the ball down.

"I still stand by the pitch. I feel I threw the ball well. I was one pitch away from having a great outing. Maybe we go extras. Who knows?"

Jennings was asked to go more than one inning on Tuesday because the bullpen is a bit thin.

Chad Qualls was unavailable due to a tight back. He did some throwing on flat ground on Wednesday. A.J. Ramos had warmed up in the bullpen and was ready to take the mound in the eighth inning, had Miami scored in the bottom of the seventh.

The frustrating part for Jennings is he threw what he felt was a quality pitch, but he was not rewarded.

"I've gone back over it, I looked at it," the reliever said. "I like the pitch. That happens. That's why this game is so hard sometimes. You make good pitches, and they get hit. I tip my hat to him a little bit. That was a heck of a swing."